Nine Years Post-María: Frustration Grows as Reconstruction Lags in Santurce

Nine years after the devastating Hurricane María, residents in Santurce, Puerto Rico, are feeling increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in reconstruction efforts. According to the Resident Commissioner, Pablo José Hernández Rivera, the main issues include coordination failures, bureaucracy, and a lack of technical training. These challenges are causing delays in utilizing federal funds meant to aid in the recovery.

Hernández Rivera highlighted the failure in communication between government agencies, particularly citing the lack of coordination among key energy players. He also pointed to recent corruption allegations involving the Power Expectations contract, which he believes are hindering progress in the energy sector. Additionally, he criticized the performance of the Office of Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resilience (COR3), noting that it has not improved since the change in administration.

While he acknowledges that the immediate threat of losing funds is not imminent, he warns that there are ongoing concerns among residents that funds may be reallocated. His proposed Puerto Rico Disaster Recovery Completion Act of 2026 aims to extend the deadline for completing recovery projects until 2035. However, he emphasizes that implementing existing recommendations from government audits could address many of the bureaucratic issues.